Insecticide



Patented J. 8, 1946 was ENSECTICIDE Cl'iarles Verne Bowen, Bethesda, Md, and Lloyd E. Smith,- Washington, ll). 63.,

assignors to illaude R. Wiekard, as Secretary of Agriculture oi the United States of America, and his sucsensors in omcc lilo Drawing. Application Stone 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,218

(iii. Mil-32) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 3%, 1928; 370 1). 75?) 5 @Eairns.

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, ii patented, ma be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States oi America for governmental purposes without the payment to us of an royalty thereon.

This is a continuation in part of our applicaggm 9ior patent, Serial No. 253,142, filed January 0dr invention relates to improvements in materials for destroying or checking the growth or multiplication of living organisms, whether plant or animal, which are economically injurious to man.

An object of this invention is to provide a material suitable for use as an insecticide.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material which is relatively non-toxic to man and warm-blooded animals when taken by mouth, and which can be used in Place of lead arsenate and other arsenicals for destroying insects, without leaving a harmful residue on fruits and vegetables.

We have found that 3-nitroacenaphthene and dinitroacenaphthene are effective a killing many species of living organisms whether plant or animal when applied either externally or internally; that these organic compounds may be sprayed or dusted upon delicate foliage without injuring it; that these materials are even more effective than lead arsenate andother commonly used insecticides; and that they are relatively non-toxic to warm-blooded animals.

Under actual tests against newly hatched codling. moth larvae, as a spray at a. concentration of 2 pounds per 100 gallons, S-nitroacenaphthene gave a control of 25 percent greater than lead arsenate when used at the same concentration.

Dinitroaoenaphthene was also found to be satisfactory as an insecticide under actual tests.

Both dinitroacenaphthene and 3-nitroacenaphtheme may be reduced to impalpable powder by grinding and applied to vegetation either dry as a dust or wet as a spray. The products being soluble in oils may be applied as a component of an oil emulsion spray. When applied as a spray in water, it may be desirable to incorporate an effective wetting agent, such as one of the so-callecl sulfonated oils. For certain purposes, the addition of a suitable adhesive or sticker" may be advisable. These product may be applied by dissolving them in an appropriate solvent, such as acetone, and pouring the resulting solution into water, whereupon a fine colloidal precipitate is formed. This may be applied directly to the host plant, or may be combined with a suitable wetting agent, or adhesive, and then sprayed. For the control of certain types of insects it may be advantageous to admix any one of this class of compounds with known insecticides such as for example pyrethrum, derristhe arsenicals, phenothiazine, and so forth.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An insecticide containing as its essential active ingredient 3-nitroacenaphthene.

2. An insecticidal composition of matter comprising 3-nitroacenaphthene and a carrier therefor.

CHARLES VERNE BOWEN. LLOYD E. SMITH. 

